Rex Ryan May Have Helped Giants’ Decision to Keep Victor Cruz

Say what you will about Rex Ryan talking too much. Everyone knows Rex has the biggest mouth of any coach in the NFL, but that’s his style. Some say it works and makes players want to win for him. Others say it makes him look stupid and can lead to mayhem in the locker room. One thing that has never been discussed, however, is if Ryan’s openness can affect personnel decisions across the league. According to the Star-Ledger, Giants fans can think Ryan for contributing to the joy Victor Cruz has given them this season.

During the 2010 preseason, Cruz was on the Giants’ roster bubble. Heading into the preseason opener, the plan was to keep him on the team as a practice player. Cruz then lit the Jets up for three touchdowns. That performance and the praise of Ryan may have saved him from being waived.

“I hope they cut him,” Ryan said after the game. “I know one team that would be ready to sign him, and that’d be us.”

While there were almost certainly other teams that would have placed a claim on Cruz, the Giants were given a guarantee from Ryan that Cruz wouldn’t clear waivers. If Tom Coughlin thought he could contribute anything to the team in the future, he had to add him to the regular-season roster. He did just that. Obviously, it was the right choice. See, Giants fans — that Rex Ryan guy isn’t so bad after all.